PAOK to replace Metalist in play-offs

FC Metalist Kharkiv, disqualified from 2013/14 UEFA club competition on Wednesday, have been replaced by PAOK FC with Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC qualifying for the UEFA Europa League group stage.

Following today’s decision of the UEFA Appeals Body to disqualify FC Metalist Kharkiv from 2013/14 UEFA club competition, the UEFA Emergency Panel held a meeting this afternoon.

The UEFA Emergency Panel, which is composed of five members of the UEFA Executive Committee, decided to replace Metalist with PAOK FC for the remainder of the 2013/14 club competitions.

As a consequence the Greek club, eliminated by Metalist in the third qualifying round, will now face FC Schalke 04 in the UEFA Champions League play-offs, with the first leg to be played on 21 August in Germany.

This decision is final. Metalist have the opportunity to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

PAOK will not be replaced in the UEFA Europa League play-offs and their opponents, Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC, thus qualify directly for the group stage.